Trigger dispenser

ABSTRACT

A trigger dispenser device ( 1 ) envisages a secondary liquid aspiration duct ( 50 ) in communication with the dispenser duct, and a primary liquid aspiration duct ( 8 ) in communication with the container, off-axis with each other. Between these, a joining compartment ( 64 ) is provided communicating upstream with the primary liquid aspiration duct ( 8 ) and communicating downstream with the secondary liquid aspiration duct ( 50 ) to form the fluidic connection between them. In particular, the container (C) is of the type with built-in suction pipe.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 U.S. National Stage of InternationalApplication No. PCT/IB2011/051496, filed Apr. 7, 2011, and claimspriority to Italian patent application No. BS2010A000155, filed Sep. 16,2010, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a manually operated dispenser device ofa liquid, generally trigger-operated.

BACKGROUND

Such dispenser devices, known as in the trade “trigger pumps”, areextremely widespread, with an annual production of several hundredmillion pieces. They are in fact widely used in the household cleaningsector, for treating fabrics and in the world of hobbies etc.

For the production of such devices to economically worthwhile, theplants need to be able to produce and assemble an extremely large numberof pieces. Consequently, even slight improvements to the productionprocess of the components and in the assembly process of the same mayentail significant economic benefits.

In particular, it is essential that the device is easy to assemble evenwhen it has internal components which are asymmetric or off axis.

All this must necessarily marry with increasingly restrictiverequirements regarding functionality of the devices, reliability and thetype of jet dispensed.

SUMMARY

The purpose of the present invention is to realise a manually operateddispenser device of a liquid, in particular trigger-operated, whichsatisfies the aforesaid requirements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of the dispenser device according tothe present invention will be evident from the following description,made by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attacheddrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section view of the dispenser device according tothe present invention, according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows an enlargement of the area II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of a dispenser device according to thepresent invention, according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows an enlargement of the detail IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the detail of FIG. 4, in separate parts;

FIG. 6 shows an auxiliary body of the device in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the auxiliary body in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section view of the auxiliary body in FIG. 7, takenalong the section line VIII in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the appended drawings, reference numeral 1 globallydenotes a manually operated dispenser device of a liquid.

The dispenser device comprises a container C to contain the liquid to bedispensed, comprising a neck N made by an annular wall W around acontainer axis X, which defines by means of an annular rim B, acontainer aperture A for access to the inside of the same.

The dispenser device 1 comprises a dispenser head 20 attached to thecontainer C to manually aspirate the liquid from the container anddispense it to the outside.

The head 20 is pre-assembled and in general sent for filling of thecontainer separately from it. After filling the container with liquid,the head is coupled to the container.

The head 20 further comprises an auxiliary body 2 attached to the neck Nof the container C, at the aperture A of the same, to close itperipherally forming a seal.

In particular, the auxiliary body 2 comprises a main portion 4, insertedthrough the aperture A in the neck N, provided with a main surface 4 awhich remains external, and an annular collar 6, overlapping the annularrim B of the neck N, for example folded so as to straddle said annularrim B.

Preferably, the auxiliary body 2 has, on the outer side, an annulargroove 4 b which surrounds the main surface 4 a.

The auxiliary body 2 has a primary liquid aspiration duct 8 extendingalong the container axis X; coaxial to said container axis X.

In one embodiment variation, the primary liquid aspiration duct 8 iseccentric to the container axis X, that is radially distanced from it.

The primary liquid aspiration duct 8 passes through the thickness of themain portion 4, placing the compartment inside the container incommunication with the main surface 4 a.

In particular, preferably, the primary liquid aspiration duct 8 isdefined through a first tube 10, coaxial to the container axis X.

Preferably, a flexible or rigid suction tube is connectable to the tube10, which extends as far as the bottom of the container, to suck up theliquid.

Moreover, the auxiliary body 2 has a primary air aspiration duct 12,radially distanced from the primary liquid aspiration duct 8, passingthrough the thickness of the main portion 4, to place the outerenvironment or main surface 4 a in communication with the compartmentinside the container.

In particular, preferably, the primary air aspiration duct 12 is definedthrough a second tube 14, radially distanced from the first tube 10.

Moreover, the head 20 comprises a frame 22 to support the othercomponents and form some passages for the liquid. The auxiliary body 2is attached to the frame 22.

The frame 22 has a pressure chamber 24, annularly defined by a chamberwall 25, extending along a pressure axis Y, preferably incident to thecontainer axis X, for example orthogonally.

The head 20 comprises a piston 26, sealingly sliding in the pressurechamber 24 along the pressure axis Y, between a rest position, whereinthe volume of the pressure chamber 24 is maximum, and a limit dispensingposition, wherein the volume of the pressure chamber 24 is minimal,passing through intermediate dispensing positions.

Preferably, the piston 26 comprises a head seal 26 a and a tail seal 26b, distanced from the head seal along the pressure axis Y, for tightnessbetween the piston and the chamber wall 25 in which it slides.

The head 20 further comprises manual actuation devices suitable to movethe piston 26 manually in the pressure chamber 24.

Preferably, the actuation means comprise a trigger 28, suitable to acton the piston 26, for example anchored to it, and engaged with the frame22, for example hinged so as to rotate with it or sliding in translationon it.

Preferably, moreover, the head 20 comprises elastic return means able topermanently influence the piston 26 or trigger 28 to return the piston26 to the rest position.

The frame 22 further presents a dispenser duct 30 extending along adispensing axis Z, between a distal extremity 32, at the aperturetowards the outside, and an opposite proximal extremity 34.

Preferably, the pressure axis Y is parallel and separate from thedispenser axis Z.

The head 20 further comprises, preferably, a nozzle 38, attached to thedistal extremity 32 of the dispenser duct 30, to enable dispensing ofthe liquid in the desired manner.

The pressure chamber 24 is suitable for being placed in fluidiccommunication with the dispenser duct 30.

In particular, the head 20 comprises valve dispenser means suitable forallowing the transit of liquid from the pressure chamber 24 to thedispenser duct 30 when, during the dispensing phase, the piston 26 movesfrom the rest position towards the dispenser limit position, and theliquid exceeds a predefined pressure threshold.

For example, the valve dispenser means comprise an elasticallydeformable diaphragm 40, attached to the frame 22.

Moreover, the frame 22 has a secondary liquid aspiration duct 50, whichco-operates in the connection of the pressure chamber 24 with thecompartment inside the container.

Preferably, the secondary liquid aspiration duct 50 comprises an axialsection 50 a, extending parallel to the container axis X, and a radialsection 50 b, extending parallel to the pressure axis Y of the pressurechamber 24. Following the movement of the liquid aspirated from thecontainer towards the pressure chamber, the axial section 50 a isupstream of the radial section 50 b.

Moreover, the head 20 comprises valve dispenser means suitable forallowing the transit of liquid from the secondary aspiration duct 50towards the pressure chamber 24 when, during a return phase, the piston26 moves towards the rest position from the dispenser limit position,and prevents transit of the liquid from the pressure chamber 24 towardsthe secondary liquid aspiration duct 50 during said dispensing phase.

Preferably, said valve aspiration means comprise an elasticallydeformable aspiration diaphragm 52, fitted between the pressure chamber24 and the secondary liquid aspiration duct 50.

The frame 22 comprises a support plate 60, by means of which the frame22 engages with the auxiliary body 2.

The plate 60 has a functional surface 62 on the outside, which thesecondary liquid aspiration duct 50 comes out on, in a radiallydistanced position from the container axis X that is at least partiallymisaligned from the primary liquid aspiration duct 8.

Preferably the secondary liquid aspiration duct 50, and in particularthe axial section 50 a of the same, is on the opposite side to thesecondary air aspiration duct 72 in relation to the container axis X.

When the head 20 is attached to the container, the functional surface 62of the frame 22 is axially distanced from the main surface 4 a of theauxiliary body 2, so that a joining compartment or duct 64 is formedbetween these, which connects the main liquid aspiration duct 8 of theauxiliary body 2 with the secondary liquid aspiration duct 50 of theframe 22.

The primary liquid aspiration duct 8, the joining compartment 64 and thesecondary liquid aspiration duct 50 thereby form a liquid aspirationpassage which places the compartment inside the container incommunication with the pressure chamber 24 of the head 20.

Moreover, preferably, the frame 22 comprises an annular lip 66,projecting in the direction of the container axis X from the functionalsurface 62 of the plate 60, inserted in the groove 4 b of the auxiliarybody 2, to form a seal.

Moreover, the frame 22 comprises a tubular aspiration insert 70,projecting from the functional surface 62 and inserted so as to form aseal in the aspiration tube 14 of the auxiliary body 2, defining withinit a secondary air aspiration duct 72. The insert 70 therefore crossesthe joining compartment 64 destined for transit of the liquid.

The primary air aspiration duct 12 and the secondary air aspiration duct72 are therefore in communication with each other and form a separateair, aspiration passage sealed from the liquid aspiration passage.

In particular, the secondary air aspiration duct 72 comprises anaspiration hole 80 made through the chamber wall 25.

Preferably, when the piston 26 is in the rest position, the hole 80 isseparated from the pressure chamber 24 by the head seal 26 a of thepiston 26 and is separated from the outside environment by the tail seal26 b of the piston 26; when the piston 26 is in the dispensing limitposition, the hole 80 is in communication with the outside environment,but is separated from the pressure chamber 24 by the tail seal 26 b (andby the head seal 26 a).

In an initial rest configuration, the piston 26 is in the rest position,the valve dispenser means are closed, the valve aspiration means areclosed, the air aspiration passage towards the outside is closed; thepresence of liquid to dispense in the pressure chamber 24 is presumed.

In the dispensing phase, the piston 26 completes a dispensing strokefrom the rest position to the limit dispensing position by manualactivation of the trigger 28.

By effect of the liquid in the pressure chamber 24, the liquidaspiration valve means remain closed, preventing the backflow of liquidtowards the container.

By effect of the pressurised liquid, the valve dispenser means open,making the liquid travel from the pressure chamber 24 to the dispenserduct 30, thereby enabling dispensing from the nozzle 38.

When the trigger is released, the elastic return means move the piston26 or the trigger 28 from the dispensing limit position towards the restposition.

In the return phase, the piston 26 performs a return stroke from thedispensing limit position towards the return position.

The negative pressure which is formed in the pressure chamber 24 closesthe dispenser valve means. The negative pressure which is formed in thepressure chamber 24 opens the liquid aspiration valve means and theliquid transits from the compartment inside the container into thepressure chamber 24, through the primary liquid aspiration duct 8, thejoining compartment 64 and the secondary liquid aspiration duct 50.

At least for a part of the return phase, the air aspiration passage isin communication with the outside environment, so that the air can beaspirated into the compartment inside the container.

The air aspiration passage, and in particular the secondary airaspiration duct 72, is fluidically separated from the liquid aspirationpassage, and in particular from the joining compartment 64, so thatthere is no leakage of liquid.

According to a further embodiment, the container C comprises an annularcontainer wall 200 around the container axis X and an auxiliary liquidaspiration duct 202, made entirely in said lateral wall of the containerC.

In other words, the container wall 200 comprises a portion of functionalwall 204, for example positioned head-on with the container, that is onthe side destined for the liquid to come out, and an auxiliary wall 206,in one piece with the container wall 200, inside the container C, whichruns along the portion of functional wall 204, so as to form with it theauxiliary liquid aspiration duct 202.

Said duct 202 is open near the bottom of the container, to aspirate theliquid contained in it.

Preferably, said duct 202 starts from an engagement mouth 208, axiallydistanced from the neck N of the container C.

The primary liquid aspiration duct 8, at least partially eccentric tothe container axis X, is suitable for inserting in the engagement mouth208 of the auxiliary liquid aspiration duct 202.

For example, advantageously, the primary liquid aspiration duct 8comprises a first section 8 a, which starts from the main surface 4 a,having a first duct axis proximal to the container axis X and a secondsection 8 b, adjacent to the first section 8 a and terminating in theengagement mouth 208, distal to the container axis X.

Preferably, moreover, the primary liquid aspiration duct 8 comprises, inthe terminal part suitable for insertion in the engagement mouth 208, aflexible coupling portion 210, made in a less rigid material than thematerial of the remaining part of the primary liquid aspiration duct 8.

Preferably, the flexible coupling portion 210 is made in one piece withthe remaining part of the duct 8, for example by means of a co-mouldingprocess.

For example, the flexible coupling portion 210 is made inEthylene-Vinyl-Acetate (EVA) or in a material from the group ofthermoplastic elastomers (TPE); the remaining part of the tube is rathermade preferably made from high density polyethylene (PEHD).

Advantageously, this makes insertion of the duct 8 in the engagementmouth 208 particularly easy.

Preferably, moreover, the primary liquid aspiration duct 8 and thesecondary liquid aspiration duct 50 are positioned on diametricallyopposite sides the container axis X. In particular, for example, thefirst section 8 a of the primary liquid aspiration duct 8 is completelycontained on one side of the container axis X and the axial section 50 aof the secondary liquid aspiration duct 50 is completely contained onthe other side.

Innovatively, the dispenser device according to the present invention,despite having asymmetric components and off-axis ducts, retainsconsiderable assembly simplicity.

In particular, advantageously, the head ensures a good seal with thecontainer, thanks to the interposition of the auxiliary body between theframe and neck, of the container, made in particularly suitable materialfor forming a seal with the neck of the container.

Moreover, advantageously, the head ensures a good internal seal betweenthe frame and auxiliary body, made in materials suitable for suchpurpose.

Advantageously, moreover, the dispenser device ensures aspiration of theair in the container preventing the leakage of liquid in said duct.

According to a further advantageous aspect, the dispenser device ensuresaspiration of the air in the container preventing liquid from escapingfrom the air aspiration passage, for example when the device isinclined.

In particular, according to a further advantageous aspect, theconnection system of the head and container is particularly suitable inthe case of containers with liquid aspiration ducts built-in to thecontainer, for which the built-in duct is strongly off-axis with theaspiration duct of the frame and therefore needs an intermediate fluidicconnection structure.

It is clear that a person skilled in the art may make modifications tothe dispenser device described above so as to satisfy contingentrequirements, all contained within the sphere of protection as definedby the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A dispenser device for dispensing a liquid,comprising: a container provided with a neck, destined to contain theliquid to be dispensed, wherein the neck extends along a container axis;and a dispenser head attached to the neck of the container, comprising:a) a frame comprising a support plate having a functional surface, theframe further comprising: i) a pressure chamber in which a piston slidessealingly along a pressure axis, and a dispenser duct, in fluidiccommunication with the pressure chamber, to dispense the liquid to theoutside; ii) a secondary liquid aspiration duct extending from thefunctional surface and which is configured to be connected to thepressure chamber; and iii) a secondary air aspiration duct which isconfigured to be connected with the outside environment; b) manualactuation devices operatively connected to the piston to move it in thepressure chamber; c) an auxiliary body having a main surface andattached to the frame comprising: i) a primary liquid aspiration ducthaving an outlet disposed at the main surface and connected to acompartment inside the container, at least partially off-axis inrelation to the secondary liquid aspiration duct; and ii) a primary airaspiration duct connected to the compartment inside the container;wherein the functional surface and the main surface are axially spacedand form a joining compartment communicating upstream with the primaryliquid aspiration duct and communicating downstream with the secondaryliquid aspiration duct to form the fluidic connection between these; andwherein the secondary air aspiration duct of the frame and the primaryair aspiration duct of the auxiliary body overlap axially to form a sealto the liquid in transit in the joining compartment.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said container comprises a lateral annularwall in which an auxiliary liquid aspiration duct is entirely made, opennear the bottom of the container; and wherein the primary liquidaspiration duct is configured to be connected to the auxiliary liquidaspiration duct of the container.
 3. The device according to claim 2,wherein the container wall comprises a portion of functional wall and anauxiliary wall in one piece with the container wall, inside thecontainer, which runs along the portion of functional wall, so as toform with it the auxiliary liquid aspiration duct.
 4. The deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary duct extends downwards froman engagement mouth, axially spaced from the neck of the container. 5.The device according to claim 2, wherein the primary liquid aspirationduct comprises, in the terminal part suitable for connection with theauxiliary duct, a flexible coupling portion, made in a less rigidmaterial than the material of the remaining part of the primary liquidaspiration duct.
 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein theflexible coupling portion is made in one piece with the remaining partof the duct, for example by means of a co-moulding process.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 2, wherein the primary liquid aspiration ductcomprises a first section, which extends from the main surface, having afirst duct axis proximal to the container axis and a second section,adjacent to the first section and terminating in the auxiliary duct,distal to the container axis.
 8. The device according to claim 1,wherein the auxiliary body is attached to the neck of the container. 9.The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is sealingly attachedin an airtight manner to the auxiliary body.
 10. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the pressure chamber is annularly defined by a chamberwall; and wherein the secondary air aspiration duct is configured to beconnected with the outside environment by a hole through the chamberwall.
 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein in a restconfiguration, the secondary air aspiration duct is fluidicallyseparated from the outside environment by a seal formed on the piston.12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the primary air aspirationduct is eccentric to the container axis.
 13. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the secondary air aspiration duct is eccentric to thecontainer axis.
 14. The device according to claim 1, wherein thesecondary air aspiration duct and the secondary liquid aspiration ductare on opposite sides of the container axis.
 15. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the pressure axis is incident, in particularorthogonal, to the container axis.
 16. The device according to claim 1,wherein the dispenser duct extends along a dispensing axis parallel andseparate from the pressure axis.
 17. The device according to claim 1,comprising: a diaphragm dispenser valve; and a diaphragm aspirationvalve.
 18. The device according to claim 1, comprising a translatable orrotatable trigger.
 19. The device according to claim 18, comprising anelastic return, operatively connected to the piston or to the trigger.